Control system, air conditioner, and server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners struggle to maintain comfort by effectively addressing changes in heat load due to solar radiation, especially in highly airtight and insulated houses, where solar radiation variations significantly impact indoor conditions.

Innovation Solution

A control system that includes a heat load estimation unit, which uses location and weather information to predict solar radiation impacts, and an operation control unit that adjusts the air conditioner's operation accordingly, allowing for pre-emptive control to mitigate comfort deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the air conditioner operates at high capacity to handle peak heat load, then cooling performance is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by estimating future heat load based on solar radiation forecasts and location information, then pre-adjusting the air conditioner operation before the heat load peak occurs. This allows the system to handle temperature changes proactively rather than reactively, maintaining comfort while avoiding excessive energy consumption during peak loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the air conditioner operates at low speed to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but cooling capacity becomes insufficient during high heat load periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcooling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the air conditioner operation based on predicted heat load conditions. By continuously monitoring estimated solar radiation and location-based environmental factors, the control system optimizes the balance between energy consumption and cooling capacity, ensuring sufficient power is available during high heat load periods while conserving energy during lower demand periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the air conditioner responds reactively to heat load changes, then control simplicity is maintained, but comfort deterioration occurs due to delayed response

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidcomfort maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system uses location information and solar radiation forecasts to predict future heat load conditions, enabling preliminary adjustment of air conditioner operation before comfort deterioration occurs. This proactive approach maintains reliability by anticipating temperature changes rather than reacting to them after comfort has already been affected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring estimated heat load based on solar radiation data and location information. This feedback loop allows the control system to adjust operation in real-time, maintaining comfort while managing energy consumption effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3745041B1Control system, air conditioner, and server
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3745041B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3745041B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3745041B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

In a control system (20), a heat load estimation unit (31), by referring to location information (41) that indicates a location environment of a house H1 and to weather information (42) that indicates a weather forecast for a certain time slot T1, estimates a heat load which depends on solar radiation to the house H1 during the time slot T1. Specifically, the heat load estimation unit (31) checks whether or not there is a building that blocks the solar radiation to the house H1 during the time slot T1 based on the location information (41) when the weather forecast indicated in the weather information (42) is sunny. Further, the heat load estimation unit (31) estimates the heat load which depends on the solar radiation to the house H1 during the time slot T1 according to a result of the check. An operation control unit (32) controls ahead, operation of an air conditioner provided in the house H1 before the time slot T1 according to the heat load estimated by the heat load estimation unit (31).